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Chapter 457: Star, Niflheim (2)

Bel-Marduk’s face scrunched as he wondered if Chang-Sun was messing with him.

“I couldn’t see that far,” Smirking, Chang-Sun calmly met Bel-Marduk’s eyes. “but isn’t this information enough?”

After blankly staring at Chang-Sun for a moment, Bel-Marduk dumbfoundedly chuckled. “Of course, it is. I was wondering if you were messing with me, but... I guess it doesn’t really matter.”

Bel-Marduk looked at Ubbo-Sathla’s tentacle again.

Paaaah!

Rumble, rumble, rumble―!

Flash, flash!

The storm raging around Bel-Marduk dominated the sky, sending out blindingly bright lightning bolts. There were a total of seven lightning bolts, each one a relic that Bel-Marduk had pulled out using the Authority that he had obtained when he became ‘Taurus.’

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ has activated the Authority ‘Asarualimmunna[1]!]

[The Celestial ‘Divine Twilight’ has activated the Authority ‘Dream-Eating Beast’ in response to the power of the Celestial ‘Taurus’!]

Instead of reacting against each other, the two storms harmonized and expanded in every direction.

Woosh, woosh, woosh...!

‘Divine Twilight’ Lee Chang-Sun and ‘Taurus’ Bel-Marduk. Combining two of the Nine Heavens’ powers resulted in an extraordinary force.

Having difficulties breaking through the storm, Ubbo-Sathla could no longer move the tentacle that Bel-Marduk had just blocked. However, it also looked as if a belligerent predator was merely observing their prey, looking for weaknesses.

Paah!

A moment later, a spatial gap opened up in the sky, revealing an enormous reptilian eye. When Chang-Sun, Bel-Marduk, and all their subordinates looked at it, they immediately felt as if the world suddenly quieted down. Chang-Sun’s and Bel-Marduk’s storms and lightning bolts were still thundering all over the battlefield, and their subordinates’ intense battles were still causing a lot of noise. However, none of them could hear anything.

All. You. Cumbersome.

Ubbo-Sathla was furious.

Why. Many. You. Fight. Me. Every. Time.

Hsan, Bel-Marduk, Chang-Sun... people who looked like each other kept picking a fight with them every time they visited the Great Universe. They were also trapped in the Rollback loop against their will now. It would have been stranger if they weren’t enraged.

Bel-Marduk tauntingly gestured at Ubbo-Sathla. “I can’t understand what you’re saying. Can you not even speak properly? Stop stammering to yourself and just come at me.”

Ubbo-Sathla frowned.

This. <Extinction>. Last. I. Escape. This. Annoying. Curse.

When the eye closed, they squeezed many more of their tentacles through the gap, which had widened like paper getting ripped. More than ten new tentacles struck the ground.

* * *

Spuuurt!

The Fire Giants and Frost Giants had finally dealt enough damage to the tentacle they were targeting to tear its tip away, sending chunks of it flying in the air. Although the tentacle was gigantic, the chunks were tiny compared to Ubbo-Sathla’s size. Nevertheless, Chang-Sun’s subordinates were still happy.

“We finally ripped it! Hahahaha!”

“Yeah! Let’s keep tearing this Outer Celestial apart until they die!”

Considering the Giants were already objectively helpless against one tentacle, witnessing Ubbo-Sathla squeezing in more should have been devastating. On the contrary, however, they seemed to be having fun. Experienced in combat and pursuing victory, Facing insurmountable obstacles tended to motivate them.

“Besides, Master is laughing!”

That alone gave the Giants more reason not to worry.

Sinmara dumbfoundedly chuckled. She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen him smiling like that. “He’s having fun.”

“Right? We’ve been going through hell, though,” Jin Prezia grumbled as he showed up beside her. He was smiling too. “What do you think? Can we win?”

“What are you talking about? We have to even if we can’t,” Sinmara scoffed. She then smirked. “All of this is Master’s doing. Even if we don’t stand a chance, he’ll simply find a solution.”

Jin nodded. “You’re right.”

Chang-Sun had always found an answer even in the direst of situations, ultimately emerging as the victor. This time would be no different.

Holding on to that belief, Jin pulled his Undead Wyvern’s rein. Together with the Draconic Knights, he soared into the sky.

* * *

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ anxiously jumps over and over, thinking they should join the fight in the Dungeon.]

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ calms her youngest daughter, telling her to observe the situation for now.]

All Celestials and Star Signs in Worldline #801 knew about the history between Bel-Marduk and Tiamat.

Ever since Chang-Sun had partnered up with Bel-Marduk to fight Ubbo-Sathla, Tiamat had been keeping her distance.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ requests you to understand her position.]

Chang-Sun reassuringly nodded at the message. He knew that Tiamat was just using her feud against Bel-Marduk as an excuse to stop the <Anti-Star> Alliance from marching until she had analyzed Ubbo-Sathla’s level. Tiamat was his ally, but she was also the ruler of <Nammu> and leader of the <Anti-Star> Alliance. It was her duty to protect her people.

On the other hand, Pabilsag couldn’t seem to find any issues in joining the battle now.

Chang-Sun chuckled as he read the messages that popped up after Tiamat’s. ‘Other <Societies> in the <Anti-Star> Alliance think otherwise.’

[The Society <Memphis> is reluctant to join the battle!]

[The Society <Olympus> observes the battlefield as they discuss whether they should join!]

...

[The <Anti-Star> Alliance has called a meeting about the ongoing battle due to their conflicting opinions.]

Considering even <Olympus>, Chang-Sun’s closest ally, hesitated to stand beside him, it was only natural that the other <Societies> were even more reluctant.

“Everyone’s planning to sit this one out, aren’t they?” Bel-Marduk smiled coldly. He looked as if he had expected the <Anti-Star> Alliance to react this way. “It’s the same in every Worldline. They speak of eloquent bullshit like rulers’ virtue and gods’ duties, but they cower the moment their safety is threatened.”

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ yells angrily at the Celestial ‘Taurus’ that he knows nothing about them!]

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ stays silent.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is very shocked by her mother’s reaction!]

[Most Celestials and Star Signs are expressing their fear about the arrival of the Outer Celestial!]

[Some Celestials and Star Signs request the <Management Bureau> to solve the problem!]

[The <Management Bureau> bitterly explains that the Outer Celestial’s summoning and the deal behind it followed the proper procedure.]

...

[<Deus Ex Machina> frowns.]

...

“I know you’re close with Tiamat. I’m not trying to bicker with you about it,” Bel-Marduk told Chang-Sun.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ silently observes the Celestial ‘Taurus’!]

“But I would like to advise you to reconsider forming any kind of deep relationship with her.”

Bel-Marduk burst into laughter as he extended his hand toward the tentacle that had just managed to break through the storm. A pool of light formed at his fingertips and transformed into an enormous sword, which he used to parry the tentacle to the side.

Booom!

The strong explosion tore the tentacle’s tip into dozens of pieces, each one dropping to the ground along with bizarre-looking fluids.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon ’ purses her lips.]

‘There must be more to their history,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Regardless of what happened to them in the past, he saw no reason to intervene. He didn’t see any reason to be disappointed about Tiamat or do as Bel-Marduk said either. Considering all their relations were business-related, they didn’t have to get along more than necessary. That was all.

Whirl―!

The tentacle pieces stopped and squirmed in the air, growing longer and flying toward Bel-Marduk and Chang-Sun. Some shot toward them like arrows while some stretched and formed a net, dropping around the two to trap them.

[The Authority ‘Dream-Eating Beast’ has been invoked, firing the first claw!]

Clang, clang, clang―!

Chang-Sun sprang forward and parried away the tentacle pieces before they could cage them.

Paaaah―!

[The Authority ‘Dream-Eating Beast’ has been invoked, firing the second claw!]

[The Authority ‘Dream-Eating Beast’ has been invoked, firing the third claw!]

...

Rumble, rumble, rumble―!

With each swing of [Gungnir], Chang-Sun left behind sunset-colored afterimages. He parried away and destroyed the tentacles, dyeing the sky red. Not long after, he reached the spatial gap the tentacles were coming from and thrust [Gungnir] deep into it.

[The Authority ‘Dream-Eating Beast’ has been invoked, firing the fifth claw!]

Staaaab!

Rummmble―!

Chang-Sun started another explosion through [Gungnir], filling the spatial gap red. Ubbo-Sathla’s eye opened up once more, revealing blood all over it.

Rascal.

Chang-Sun sensed the space around him distorting. Ubbo-Sathla was using their ability to destabilize his balance and hinder his divine power circulation.

[The Authority ‘Avatar\'s Descent’ has been activated!]

Thump...!

Chang-Sun clenched his teeth as he stomped with his right foot, nullifying Ubbo-Sathla’s ability. Using [Avatar’s Descent], he had secured a certain amount of space around him.

Ooooooong!

Ubbo-Sathla let out a long howl, loathing Chang-Sun for his relentless retaliation. When they withdrew their tentacles to trap him in a void, Bel-Marduk showed up and launched a lightning bolt. It traveled from the spatial gap to the end of the void, slashing Ubbo-Sathla’s eye.

Slaaash!

Splaaash―!

An astronomical amount of blood spurted from the wound, threatening to flood the Dungeon.

“Tsk. It’s shallow,” Bel-Marduk said, discontentment on his face despite having managed to leave a scratch.

He wanted to blow away at least half of the eye but only managed to scratch the retina due to the very robust barrier around them.

Kill. You. Kill. You. All.

Ubbo-Sathla was infuriated. The impossible had just happened, allowing a fly to hurt them. However, they didn’t have the time to wallow in anger.

Chang-Sun extended his hand toward Ubbo-Sathla and clenched his fist.

“Explode.”

After shoving [Gungnir] deep into the spatial gap earlier, Chang-Sun had secretly blended Duskfall energy into it for this exact moment. A chain of vehement explosions erupted inside the eye, causing far more damage than external attacks could.

Ubbo-Sathla screamed in pain. Half of their eye had been destroyed.

Wooosh, swoosh, swish―!

The more Ubbo-Sathla writhed, the more their tentacles lashed around at random, destroying the Dungeon. The mountain and every bit of the ‘Iron Forest’ crumbled down.

Standing in front of the tremoring void, Chang-Sun turned to his side where a message window was displayed. “Your mother’s homeland is about to be destroyed for good. Are you going to remain a spectator?”

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ looks at you with mixed emotions!]

“As Bestla’s heir, I order you. Join the battle, <Niflheim>.”

1. Bel-Marduk’s other name in Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos ☜